Plans for a major multi-screen cinema and leisure complex in Scarborough will move forward with a new operator after developers confirmed Odeon has withdrawn from the project.
Plans for a major new cinema and leisure complex in Scarborough will move forward without Odeon.
Developers have confirmed the cinema chain has withdrawn from the Brunswick Centre redevelopment, despite being announced as the anchor operator in 2024.
The transformation of the former shopping centre into a vibrant leisure destination will now proceed with a different partner. Scarborough Group International, the developers behind the project, confirmed the change but stated they are not yet in a position to name the new operator.
However, a replacement cinema firm and a major retail brand are reportedly close to finalising a deal for the Yorkshire Coast site.
North Yorkshire Council's deputy leader, Councillor Mark Crane, spoke to This Is The Coast this week about the latest developments.
Councillor Mark Crane said:
"There was an extant planning permission on the building which would have seen a larger cinema, but that operator is no longer going to be involved in it. But there are interests from other operators of a cinema, and the whole scheme is now working as a six-screen cinema, a couple of large retail outlets, and a significant food and beverage offer."
The proposed overhaul aims to revitalise the town centre by filling gaps in the local entertainment market. A well-known anchor retailer is also expected to join the complex, though final agreements depend on securing the necessary funding.
Councillor Mark Crane says it's hoped the cinema firm will be on board shortly:
"I'm not at liberty to say who it is, but they do have some very interested and also with an anchor retailer, and again, not in a position to say who the anchor retailer is, but a name that everybody listening to your program would recognize, I'm sure and they are ready, I think, to sign on the dotted line. One of the reasons they haven't yet is because this finance needs to be in place. So, it's a bit of a chicken and egg until the finance is in place, the cinema operator and the retailer would not be in a position to sign."
The Brunswick Shopping Centre was purchased by Scarborough Group International in September 2021. Following the acquisition, plans were unveiled to convert the site into a leisure-led destination featuring a multi-screen cinema, alongside a complementary mix of bars, eateries, and shops.
These initial proposals received unanimous approval from the former Scarborough Borough Council's planning committee in March 2023.
In September 2024, Odeon was revealed as the focal point for the revamped complex. The announcement was initially celebrated as a historic return for the chain, which previously operated in Scarborough from 1936 until 1988 at a site just 300 metres from the Brunswick Centre, where the Stephen Joseph Theatre now stands. The original cinema eventually closed its doors after plans to modernise the building were rejected due to its listed status.
At the time of the 2024 announcement, Scarborough Group International described the partnership as a key milestone that would save residents and visitors from travelling over an hour to York for a premium cinema experience.
While the loss of Odeon marks a shift in the project, the revised scheme continues to promise substantial economic regeneration for the town.
The proposed development would include a six-screen multiplex cinema with capacity for around 600 people, a family-focused indoor leisure attraction, up to three food and drink units and two retail units.
North Yorkshire Councillors will discuss providing an £8.5m loan to help kick start the project at a meeting next week.
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